Apparatus for dispensing postage-stamps and paper strips.



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prion.

JOSEPH MORRIS, OF CHELSEA, DIASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING POSTAGE-STAMPS AND PAPER STRIPS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH Mourns, a citizen of the United States,and'resident of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 25, 1911.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Serial No. 664,512.

revolve when the strip is drawn forward, and a tension device common toall of the cells exerts the requisite drag on a strip, the

Chelsea, county of Suffolk, State of Massa- I free end of the stripalways being positioned chusetts, have invented an Improvement inApparatus for Dlspensmg Postage-Stamps and Paper Strips, of which thefollowlng descrlption, 1n.connect1on with the accompanying drawlng, 1s aspecification, like so that it can be readily grasped by the l fingerswhen again necessary.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described inthe suhjoined specification and particularly pointed out in characterson the drawing representing like the following claims.

parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a simple andconvenient apparatus for dispensing postage-stamps, ticket strips or thelike from a roll, and it is particularly adapted for use in post-officesor other places where large numbers of stamps of a number of differentdenominations are called for and sold.

My apparatus is also well adapted for use in the mailing departments oflarge business houses, as the stamps of different denominations are heldin convenient form for detachment in desired numbers.

At the present time the stamp-selling department of large post-officesis usually pro vided with a tray having compartments for the diiferentdenominations of stamps most frequently called for, and not only is timeconsumed in separating the stamps from the sheets to fill thecompartment, but often in rush periods one or more compartments arequickly emptied, and then the clerk must stop and replenish them or takestamps from the large sheets. This latter procedure leads to confusionand delay, and often stamps are torn, while with a compartment tray twoor more stamps will often stick together when only one is wanted, andthen they must be separated.

By my present invention the strip from which the stamps are to bedetached is wound into roll form of any convenient size, and rolls ofstamps of difierent denominations are inserted loosely in suitablecells, the strip being drawn from the roll in required lengths andsevered by being drawn across a cutting or severing device, to bedescribed.

I have provided means to retain each roll loosely in its cell and topermit the roll to Figure 1 is a front elevation, centrally broken out,of a stamp or strip dispensing apparatus embodying one form of myinvention, one of the cells being shown loaded with a stamp-roll; Fig. 2is a left-hand end elevation of the apparatus, showing the free end ofthe strip in readiness to be grasped and drawn forward; Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, showing the strip aboutto be severed.

In the present embodiment of my invention an elongated base 1 suitablysupported on legs 2, in practice screwed to a shelf, table or other firmsupport, has along its rear edge a box-like stand 3 fixedly mountedthereon and running lengthwise of the base from end to end, the table orother support being indicated at 4. The front edge of the base isprovided with a frontwardly anddownwardly inclined extension 5,strengthened and stiffened at its lower longitudinal edge by a bar 6 inwhich is set an upturned cutting blade or separator 7 having preferablya serrated or toothed edge, as shown in Fig. 1. The bar 6 is beveled orrounded in front of and below the cutting edge of the separator 7, as at8, Figs. 2 and 3, to permit the strip to be drawn down at a rather sharpangle over the separator, to facilitate the cutting or severing action.Along the front longitudinal edge of the base 1 I mount a retractor,herein shown as a rib or bar 9 extending the length of the bed andattached thereto by screws 10, the smooth top of the retractor beingconvexed or rounded, at 11. Upon the stand 3 I fixedly mount a series ofupright and open roll-receiving cells, arranged side by side, each cellcomprising upright and parallel side walls 12, shown as substantiallycircular in shape, each pair of side walls being connected by a curvedstrip of metal forming a bottom 13 and back 1 1 for the cell. The sidewalls are spaced apart sufficiently to receive easily and freely betweenthem. a strip-roll, the latter resting upon the concaved bottom 13 ofthe cell, and being held therein at the back by the upcurvedcontinuation 1 1 of the bottom, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. At its frontedge the bottom 13 is curved over, at 15, and just above such curvedportion a horizontal rod 16 is fixedly attached to the side walls, theclearance beneath the rod forming a delivery throat or passage throughwhich the strip passes. Arms 17 are pivoted at 18 to the centers of theouter side walls of the endmost cells of the series, as shown in Fig.

1, the free ends of said arms being connected by a tension bar 19 whichnormally rests upon the upper faces of the several strips just behindthe retra-ctor 9, and depresses the strips upon the base 1. The strip ofstamps, tickets or the like is wound into a roll 20, and in Fig. 1 Ihave shown a roll of postage stainps separated by transverseperforations 21.

To load the cells the tension bar 19 is swung up and back, see dottedlines Fig. 2, and a roll is dropped into each cell. or into as many ofthe cells as may be required, the free end of each strip being passeddown under the combined strip-guide and roll detent 16 and through thedelivery throat, passing over the convex part 15 and then over theconvex top of the retractor 9. When the cells are loaded the tension baris swung back into operative position, Figs. 1 and 3, and as shown infull lines Fig. 2, the weight of the bar 19 pressing the strips 22 downupon the base 1. Each strip thereby has a bend formed in it just back ofthe ret actor, such bend, in conjunction with the retractor, lifting orretracting the free end of the strip well above the inclined extension5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

To sever any desired length from a strip the operator grasps the freeend of the strip, draws it forward (the roll 20 rotating freely over thebottom 13 of the'cell) and when the proper length has been drawn pastthe separator 7 the strip is pulled down against the cutting edge of thelatter and severed.

In Fig. 3 the strip is shown in engagement with the separator and inreadiness to be cut or severed thereby by a downward pull.

When postage-stamps or tickets are being dispensed the transverse linesof perfora tions indicate to the eye of the operator just where thesevering is to be effected, and with very little practice the eye andhand Work is in such harmony that the downward pull to sever the stripis practically a continuation of the forward or feeding pull on thestrip. The severed part of the strip of course remains in the fingers,and immediately the free end of the strip is elevated by the combinedaction of the tension bar 19 and the retractor 9, as shown in Fig. 2, sothat it can be grasped readily for the next operation. he tension baracts upon all of the strips and sufficient friction is provided betweenthe base 1 and said bar to exert a proper drag or tension when a stripis drawn forward. By inclining the extension 5 not only is ample roomleft for the fingers to grasp the free end of a strip when in lifted orretracted position, but it also prevents the toothed edge of theseparator from injuring the fingers or hand of the operator. As theseparator is upturned and in plain sight at all times there is no dangerof severing a strip at an improper place. The bottoms of the cells areso pitched or positioned that the roll 20 has some tendency to movebackward away from the combined guide and detent 16 whenever the stripis pulled forward from the front of the roll, said detent keeping theroll in the cell and also exerting a slight friction upon it and uponthe strip, preventing too free rotation of said roll but not retardingit sufiiciently to break the strip at any of the lines of perforations21.

It will be seen that the loading of a cell is a very simple matter, forthe roll is just dropped into it and the end of the strip passed throughthe delivery throat, the tension bar having first been swung back. andit will also be seen that I have eliminated journals or pivots for theroll, the latter resting loosely upon the bottom of the cell and rollingor rotating thereover when the strip is pulled forward.

My dispensing apparatus is particularly adapted for use withpostage-stamps, for any or all denominations can be used; the

tension is the same on a strip at all times whether the roll be a newone or one nearly exhausted, and the refilling of an empty cell is thework of a moment. At the same time the handling of perforated stampstrips is effected with all necessary delicacy, and it is impossible fortwo or more stamps to become stuck together by rapid handling.

When a strip is drawn forward it passes over the smooth convex top 11 ofthe retractor and is curved or flexed thereover when the strip isdepressed onto the severing blade or separator 7, the flexing of j thestrip over the retractor and the combined action of the latter and thetension bar 19 insuring a quick upward movement of the free end of thestrip after the desired length has been severed therefrom, shown in Fig.2.

Various changes or modifications may be made in different details ofconstruction or arrangement without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention as set forth in the annexed claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a series of upright, openroll-receiving cells arranged side by side, a detent at the front ofeach cell, to retain the roll therein when its end is drawn forward, aswinging tension member cooperating at all times with the strips fromall of the cells to exert friction upon and prevent improper movement ofa strip, and an upturned separator fixedly mounted at a distance infront of said tension member and extended lengthwise of the cells, tosever a strip transversely when drawn forward and downward upon theseparator.

2. In apparatus of the class described, an upright cell permanently openat its front and top and adapted to receive loosely a strip-roll, thecell having parallel side walls and a concave bottom, a transversedetent crossing the open front of the cell, to retain the roll thereinand guide the strip as it is drawn from the roll and under the detent, aseparator fixedly mounted in front of and below the cell, to sever thestrip transversely, and means between said separator and the cell tolift the end of the strip from the separator when a portion of the stripis severed therefrom, said means comprising a fixed member and anadjacent gravity-actuated member, said members acting upon op positesides of the strip.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a series of open cells eachadapted to receive loosely a strip-roll, and having a delivery throatthrough which the end of the strip is passed, an upturned separator infront of the series of cells, to sever a strip when drawn downthereupon, and a pivotally mounted, gravityactuated tension device toact continuously upon all of the strips between the cells and theseparator.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a series of open cells eachadapted to receive loosely a strip-roll and having at its front atransverse, combined strip guide and rolldetent under which the strippasses, a separating blade extended in front of the cells at a distancetherefrom, and a pivotally mounted tension member adapted to act uponand retard movement of all of the strips, said tension member normallybeing positioned between the cells and the separating blade and beingmovable manually above and back of the cells when the latter are to beloaded.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a series of open cells eachadapted to receive loosely a strip-roll and having at its front atransverse, combined strip guide and rolldetent under which the strippasses, a separatin blade extended in front of the cells at a distancetherefrom, a retractor extended lengthwise of the cells between them andthe blade and above the latter, and a gravity-actuated tension member tocooperate with the strips and exert friction thereupon behind saidretractor, said tension member cooperating with the retractor to liftthe free end of a strip after a portion has been severed therefrom bythe blade.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a base, an open cell thereonhaving upright side walls and a fixedly attached concave bottom andback, to receive loosely therein a strip-roll, means crossing the frontof the cell to guide the strip when drawn thereunder from the roll, andto retain the latter in the cell, a separator in front of the cell, anda gravity-actuated tension device to cooperate continuously with andexert friction upon the strip at a point between the cell and saidseparator.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a base, a cell thereonpermanently open at its front and top and having upright side walls anda concave bottom and back, to receive loosely therein a strip-roll,means to extend across and guide the strip when drawn from the top ofthe roll and to retain the latter in the cell, a separator having anupturned, toothed edge located in front of and below the cell, to severthe strip transversely, and means between said separator and the cell toelevate the free end of the strip away from the separator after aportion of the strip has been severed thereby, said means comprising afixed member and an adjacent pivotally mounted member cooperating withthe strip at opposite sides thereof.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a roll-receiving cellpermanently open at its front and top and comprising upright, par--allel side walls and a fixedly connected concave bottom and back, atransverse detent connecting the side walls near the front edge of thecell bottom, forming therewith a delivery throat for the strip from theroll, v

the latter resting upon the bottom of the cell, the strip passingbeneath the said detent, a swinging tension member to rest upon andexert frictionuipon the strip after it has passed from the cell, and aseparating blade in front of and below the tension memher to sever thestrip transversely.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a flat base having a downwardlyinclined extension at its front edge, a fixed separator extendedlongitudinally of said extension at the lower edge thereof. a series ofupright, permanently open cells mounted side by side on the base andeach adapted to receive loosely a strip-roll, a guide at the front ofeach cell to direct the strip drawn there- In testimony whereof, I havesigned my under from the roll in such cell, and a pivname to thisspecification, in the presence 10 ota'lly mounted tension membernormally of two subscribing Witnesses.

acla atecl to rest upon all of the strips and 7 press them upon the basein front of the JOSEPH MORRIS cells between the latter and theseparator, Witnesses:

to exert friction upon said strips and pre- JOHN C. CONNERS,

vent improper advance thereof. FREDERICK S. GREENLEAF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

